WALES v SCOTLAND 6 Nations International Championship

09.03.2013

Venue: Murrayfield

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	PT
ENGLAND	3	3	0	0	73	37	36	6
WALES	3	2	0	1	64	45	19	4
SCOTLAND	3	2	0	1	64	54	10	4
IRELAND	3	1	0	2	42	46	-6	2
ITALY	3	1	0	2	42	78	-36	2
FRANCE	3	0	0	3	37	62	-25	0

Preview
Realistically these are the only teams that can challenge England for this years 6 Nations Championship. Both have 4 points and both has lost a game. Whoever wins will edge a little closer to the leaders.

Last years Grand Slam winner Wales has had a woeful autumn campaign but recent wins against France and Italy has restored some confidence. A win today could mean their clash with England next weekend could decide the championship.

Ireland has a lot to do. Losses to England and then Scotland have all but seen their Championship hopes crash and burn. They only have an outside chance of honours.

Last Five Encounters
12.02.2012 Wales 27-13 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
12.02.2011 Wales 24-6 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
13.02.2010 Wales 31-24 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
08.02.2009 Wales 26-13 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
09.02.2008 Wales 30-15 in Cardiff (6 Nations)

Scotland last defeated Wales in 2007, winning 21-9 at Murrayfield

Scotland Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
24.02.2013 v Ireland W 12-8 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
09.02.2013 v Italy W 34-10 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
02.02.2013 v England L 18-38 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
24.11.2012 v Tonga L 15-21 in Aberdeen
17.11.2012 v South Africa L 10-21 at Murrayfield

Wales Last Five P 2, L 3
23.02.2013 v Italy W 26-9 in Rome (6 Nations)
09.02.2013 v France W 16-6 in Paris (6 Nations)
02.02.2013 v Ireland L 22-30 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
01.12.2012 v Australia L 12-14 in Cardiff
24.11.2012 v New Zealand L10-33 in Cardiff

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Scotland 3rd, Wales 4th
Europe Table-Wales 2nd, Scotland 6th

IRB Ranking Points
Wales 80.74, Scotland 78.19

Prediction: Wales by 6 points

TEAMS

Scotland
15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Matthew Scott,
11 Timothy Visser, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 John Beattie, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Robert Harley, 5 James Hamilton, 4 Richard Gray, 3 Euan Murray,
2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements
16 Douglas Hall, 17 Moray Low, 18 Geoffrey Cross, 19 Alastair Kellock,
20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Max Evans.
Head Coach: Scott Johnson

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alexander Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 James Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Daniel Biggar, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Tobias Faletau, 7 Samuel Warburton, 6 Ryan Jones (capt), 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements
16 Kenneth Owens, 17 Scott Andrews, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Andrew Coombs, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Scott Williams.
Head Coach: Robert Howley (Interim)